ST. LOUIS, MO., January 19, 2024 – The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have agreed on a one-year free-agent contract with former Cardinals All-Star Matt Carpenter for the upcoming 2024 season.
Carpenter, 38, who was drafted by St. Louis in 2009 and debuted in 2011, was a three-time All-Star (2013, 2014 & 2016) during his 11-year Cardinals tenure, and garnered National League MVP votes in 2013, 2015 and 2018.
“When you think of players that helped shape our success in the 2000s, Matt Carpenter’s name is one that is synonymous with winning,” stated Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak. “Matt showed from the very beginning of his career how hard work and determination can lead to success, and we are excited to have his leadership and experience back in a Cardinals uniform.”
The left-handed hitting Carpenter has compiled a .260/.367/.451 slash line over his career (1,452 games) with 175 HR’s, 644 RBI, 1,225 hits and an .818 OPS. He led the majors in runs (126), hits (199) and doubles (55) in 2013 – the 3rd-most single-season two-baggers by a Cardinal, and the team’s most ever by a left-handed batter.
Carpenter was a member of the Cardinals last World Series team (2013) and appeared in seven games as a rookie during the Cardinals 2011 World Championship season.
After leaving St. Louis in 2022, Carpenter enjoyed a strong start with the Yankees that year, batting .305 with a 1.138 OPS and 15 HR’s in his 47 games before being injured. He spent 2023 with San Diego and finished strong in limited play, compiling a .974 OPS and .500 on-base pct. over the season’s final two months. He was dealt to Atlanta during last month’s Winter Meetings, and was then granted his release, becoming a free-agent.
Carpenter’s name dots several leader boards among all-time Cardinals including the most career (24) and single-season (8, 2018) lead-off home runs. He’s ranked 6th all-time among Cardinals in base-on-balls (699) and 8th in game-winning RBI (73). His 68 career home runs at Busch Stadium III are tied with Yadier Molina for 4th-most in stadium history.
Appearing in 56 postseason games with St. Louis, Carpenter’s six playoff round-trippers are tied for 5th-most in club annals, including a memorable blast off Clayton Kershaw that jump-started the Cardinals 10-9 comeback win in Game 1 of the 2014 NLDS at Dodger Stadium. “Carp” has made six Opening Day starts at third base for St. Louis, and his 671 career games at the “hot corner” for the Cardinals are 3rd-most in team history.
— STL —
It’s a puzzling move for the team other than the fact he’s probably signing really cheap; since he was released by the Braves, the Cardinals should only be on the hook for the MLB minimum. If that’s the case and he doesn’t work out, they won’t have to eat very much money.
Unfortunately this will cut down on at bats for the DH positions, specifically Brendan Donovan and Nolan Gorman, while also impacting Alec Burleson and Luken Baker. I’d rather see the younger guys get the at bats.
I’d also rather see the team use this little bit of money on a reliever; the bullpen is short and they don’t have much to spend. They won’t be in on a Josh Hader type, but guys like Phil Maton would make sense.
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